Columbus Itinerary: Patriotic Places and Historical Spaces

The Itinerary at a Glance

The various military museums and collections located throughout the city, along with the opening of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, make Columbus the perfect place to bring your group for a military-themed adventure. You’ll also taste some of the city’s best food and explore the unique neighborhoods, all with different experiences.

4 Unique Experiences on This Trip

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Ohio History Center

Motts Military Museum

American Whistle Corporation

Book Loft

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Duration: 3 Days

Available: Year-round

This Itinerary is Ideal For: All

Itinerary Details

Day 1

Morning: Join Columbus City Adventures or Capital City Tours for a step-on guided tour of Columbus. Travel through downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods with the Ohio Statehouse as the historical centerpiece.

Lunch: Established in 1876, the North Market is Columbus’ only remaining true public market. More than 30 merchants vend a variety of fresh, local, authentic foods.

Afternoon: Visit Camp Chase Cemetery, a military staging and training camp established in Columbus in 1861 after the start of the Civil War. The camp was dismantled after the war, and the site has been redeveloped, except for the Confederate cemetery containing 2,260 graves.

Evening: See new displays at the Ohio History Center featuring military collections from 20th and 21st-century service members. Then enjoy the dinner theater experience A Red Herring Mystery.

Day 2

Morning: Visit the Motts Military Museum, dedicated to preserving the memory of all individuals that served in the United States military.

Lunch: The 94th Aero Squadron, a themed restaurant full of military memorabilia and aviation relics depicting the WWI and WWII eras was once a French farmhouse. Located between runways of John Glenn Columbus International Airport, it offers dramatic views of plane traffic.

Afternoon: Take a factory tour at American Whistle Corporation, the nation’s only manufacturer of metal whistles Everyone leaves with a shiny new whistle. Spend the rest of the day exploring Old Worthington, a historic neighborhood with noteworthy buildings and churches. Pick from hundreds of fragrances before pouring your own custom-scented candle at The Candle Lab. Or make your own greeting card on an antique printing press at Igloo Letterpress.

Dinner:The Worthington Inn restaurant is a mainstay offering refined fare, Victorian-style decor and a pub in a historic 1831 building.

Seasonal Afternoon/Evening Options:Huntington Park is the home of the Columbus Clippers, Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, and offers a variety of group seating options. In fall or winter, head to Nationwide Arena for a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey game.

Day 3

Morning: Welcome to German Village, Columbus’ premier downtown neighborhood and one of the preeminent historic districts in the United States. Stop at the Meeting Haus for a quick video and to pick up your step-on guide. After touring the district, it’s time to shop. The Book Loft, one of the largest independent book stores in the country, offers 32 rooms of bargain-priced books. Helen Winnemore’s, the oldest store of its kind in the United States, features usable, wearable art handcrafted in America.

Lunch: Located in a historic brick livery stable, Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus has offered award-winning, handcrafted food by five generations of the Schmidt family since 1886. Save room for dessert—the cream puffs are worth the trip itself!

Afternoon: Visit the National Veterans Memorial & Museum, which features dynamic exhibits, an outdoor memorial grove and a spiral processional that ascends to a rooftop sanctuary.

Dinner: Finish your trip with dinner at TheBoat House at Confluence Park, the only waterfront restaurant with a view of the downtown Columbus skyline.